CHRYSLER TOWN & COUNTRY

It wasn’t supposed to be this way. When crossover utility vehicles began to take hold early on in this century, minivan sales were expected to decline, then eventually disappear as models were canceled one by one. Manufacturers such as Ford and GM were among the early casualties, while Chrysler, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Kia managed to stay put.

After years of decline, something unexpected happened: sales rose by 6.3 percent in 2016, nearly erasing the losses of the previous year. The Toyota Sienna barely edged out the Dodge Grand Caravan for segment leadership, with the Honda Odyssey coming in a strong third. But it was an all-new Chrysler Pacifica model that shook up and injected new life into the segment, a seven-passenger model and successor to the Chrysler Town & Country.

I tested the 2017 Pacifica last summer and was impressed by what Chrysler had done in fielding the new minivan. As sometimes happens, a manufacturer will deliver a model twice within the same year for a follow-up review.

As before, I took delivery of a Chrysler Pacifica Limited, the top-of-the-line trim in this five-trim family. No, it wasn’t the same vehicle offered earlier— this one came in velvet red pearl coat; the earlier model was outfitted in bright white. Other than that, all the features offered in this top Pacifica line were present.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica and Hybrid Pacifica

Chrysler offers the 2017 Pacifica in five trims, designed to fit most family’s budgets. You have a choice of the LX ($28,595), Touring ($30,495), Touring L ($34,495), Touring L Plus ($37,895) and Limited ($42,495). These prices include a $995 destination charge.

Since the Pacifica was released, a plug-in hybrid model was introduced. The Pacifica PHEV is available in two trims: Hybrid Premium ($41,995) and Hybrid Platinum ($44,495). I had hoped one of the PHEV trims was coming my way, but it wasn’t ready yet. I saw the hybrid Pacifica at auto shows in Washington, DC, and Chicago just days earlier, learning that the product roll out had just begun.

My test model offered three packages, raising the final price to a lofty $48,475. A tire and wheel group ($995) brought in 20-inch aluminum wheels and locking lug nuts. A $1,995 Advanced SafetyTec Group added such features as front and rear park assist, adaptive cruise control with automatic braking, and automatic high-beam control. Another $1,995 upgrade (UConnect Theater Package) brought in a pair of video screens to the front seatbacks, a BluRay system, a 115-volt outlet, and a 220-amp alternator.

A trailer tow package ($995) is also available and for no additional charge you can opt for eight-occupant seating. At the higher end of the price spectrum, Chrysler routinely adds discounting for bundling packages. As of this writing, a $2,000 credit is built in, effectively keeping your final price below $50,000, with taxes, tags, and registration extra.

V6 Power at the Ready

Both the standard and hybrid model are powered by a V6 engine. The gasoline version is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission; the hybrid gets an electrically variable transmission along with dual-motor EV drive capability.

The V6 makes 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque in the gas model. In the hybrid, you’ll have 248 horsepower and 230 pound-feet of torque at your disposal. The hybrid also provides 30 miles of electric-only range, effectively preserving fuel and reducing vehicle emissions.

But this review is all about the model as tested — I’ll supply a separate review of the Pacifica PHEV if and one is offered to me. As for the fuel efficiency of the gasoline model, you can expect something in the neighborhood of the EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

Style Highlights

With the 2017 Pacifica, Chrysler opted for a new style direction, one first evident with the last-generation Chrysler 200 midsize sedan. This expression offers a sleek, modern fascia highlighted by flowing, available LED accent lights.

While the look has helped the Pacifica, the 200 languished on the market and was discontinued following the 2016 model year. Now, Chrysler has just the Pacifica and the dissimilar looking full-size 300 sedan to show for it.

Other style directives include pronounced character lines on the hood and profile, body sculpting, and available chrome-like touches. Further, the long roof line flows to the rear deck capped by a liftgate spoiler, oversized combination lamps, and a wraparound look rear window. All models come with dual sliding side doors and an assortment of 17-, 18-, and 20-inch wheel choices.

As expected, the interior is roomy, marked by long flowing lines across the dashboard and doors, with ample legroom everywhere. I particularly liked the arrangement for the center console — at the base of the stack is a large storage compartment. Instead of connecting the stack with the center storage space, a large open storage area is present and has a separate enclosed storage area between the seats.

Access to the second and third rows is a snap, thanks to the dual sliding doors and seats that move and tilt forward.

Cup and drink holders can be found nearly everywhere, with storage compartments and other hidden storage areas present. Chrysler not only launched the modern minivan segment, but the automaker has constantly strived to improve upon it.

Safety and Technology

When it comes to crash testing, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica received the highest marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The IIHS awarded the Pacifica with a Top Safety Pick+ rating, while the NHTSA assigned a 5-star rating to the van.

Beyond the expected suite of seat belts, traction and stability control, crumple zones, and electronic brake force distribution, the Pacifica offers more than 100 standard and available safety features. Lane departure warning, lane keep assist, front and rear park assist, a rearview camera or an available surround view camera, and adaptive cruise control is available.

A standard UConnect infotainment system with a 5-inch screen, voice-command audio, and six speakers can be upgraded to an 8.4-inch screen with navigation. You’ll also get an assortment of apps, USB and auxiliary audio ports, satellite radio, and HD radio. Buyers also have a choice of a 13-speaker Alpine audio system or a 20-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

On the Road

Minivans and V6 engines go together. Early on, such vehicles were powered by four-cylinder engines, but as these models have grown, larger engines are in order.

I always feel that I am at a disadvantage when testing minivans under the typical driving scenario. My family of four takes up about half the seats, but typically one of my two sons will sit in the back row to give me his opinion of the seating area and the ride.

The V6 has a lot of work to do when the payload is heavy. Chrysler doesn’t publish payload information, but I’m confident this vehicle can hold 1,500 pounds of people and their stuff without a problem. If you need to tow, you have a 3,600-pound limit to work with.

I like Chrysler’s workhorse 3.6-liter V-6 engine as it supplies generous amounts of power. From off-the-mark acceleration to ample passing power, this engine gets the job done. The current 9-speed automatic transmission is improved too —early on in other models, mapping issues meant the transmission was often hunting for gears — not quite “knowing” where to stay. Happily, that issue has disappeared.

Steering is light to the touch — handling is ideal on a straight line. No minivan is designed to navigate twisty roads anywhere like a sports car, but you’ll find that ride comfort has improved over the previous Town & Country. In fact, this model is so much better than what Chrysler offered previously, that it is safe to say most buyers should find its performance more than merely adequate.

Parting Thoughts

For its second go, nothing stood out for me that I might have missed from my first drive last summer. The Chrysler Pacifica is a fully capable people mover, offering a distinct utility advantage over similar-sized crossovers.

I also think the 2017 Pacifica now sets the bar, something a Chrysler minivan hasn’t done since both the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey came along. Perhaps its only weakness is brake feel as it doesn’t feel as firm as its chief competitors.

With a hybrid variant now in the mix, the Chrysler Pacifica offers something no other competitor has, further underscoring the manufacturer’s commitment to a segment that is very much alive. Besides the Sienna and Odyssey, other models to consider include the Kia Sedona and the Nissan Quest.

The Chrysler Town & Country is gone, replaced by the all-new Pacifica minivan.

2017 Chrysler Pacifica.

The Chrysler minivan is back. Not that it ever left, but the previous models were overshadowed by the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey. Not anymore. The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is as good as any model out there and with its stow ’n go seating, it provides a feature that its competitors simply do not match.

Model Background

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica successor to the Chrysler Town & Country a minivan produced from 1990 to 2016. The Town & Country name was previously used on various coupe, convertible, sedan, and wagon models dating to the early 1940s.

Chrysler resurrected the Pacifica name, last used for a crossover utility vehicle (or tall wagon) built from 2004 to 2008. The two models are unrelated.

The 2017 Pacifica is a front-wheel drive model with room for seven or eight, depending on your seating choice.

Year-Over-Year Changes

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is an all-new model. This one represents the first year of the first-generation model and was introduced in spring 2016 for the 2017 model year.

Chrysler provided a 2017 Pacifica Limited for the Auto Trends test drive. No Monroney (window sticker) was available, but two packages were included.

A UConnect Theater and Sound Group ($2,795) brings in a 115-volt auxiliary power outlet, a 220-amp alternator, a 760-watt amplifier — part of a 20-speaker Harman Kardon Audio Group — a Blu-Ray and DVD entertainment system, a pair of seat-back-mounted high-definition video touch screens, and a pair of wireless headphones.

Fully loaded, a 2017 Pacifica Limited pushes close to $50,000. However, bonus cash offers will typically reduce your final price.

Exterior Highlights

One glance at Pacifica’s front fascia and you’ll find a familiar expression, one advanced by the current-generation Chrysler 200 midsize sedan. This model has a narrow upper grille and a more pronounced lower grille with headlamps and available fog lamps hemming in both respectively.

Much of the rest of the van offers a familiar layout, including its dual sliding doors. However, there are also some key differences in this clean sheet design, including a sloping roof line, distinct character lines, and lower body trim. From the rear, oversized combination lamps, a built-in spoiler, and reflectors are present.

Standard 17-inch aluminum wheels can be upgraded to 18-inch aluminum polished wheels. And for the first time ever, this minivan now offers available 20-inch wheels, part of a package bringing in eight-passenger seating in the Limited edition only. As the photos show, my test model was so equipped.

All models also come with folding, heated side mirrors. Further, a roof rack and rails are also available or are standard beyond the base trim level.

Interior Highlights

Chrysler lays out Pacifica’s seating configuration in 2-3-2 or 2-3-3 fashion. The first choice offers captain’s chairs in the middle row. The second choice brings in a split-folding bench seat. Carefully weigh the importance of acquiring an extra seating spot here at the expense of losing the very comfortable and versatile captain’s chairs.

Nevertheless, the test model came with the 40-20-40 middle bench seat and it isn’t a bad arrangement. Chrysler pushes the center console far enough forward to provide ample leg room for the middle seated person, even with the rear facing pullout drawer with two cup holders.

From front to back and from side to side, this “mini” van seems quite large. The greenhouse gives this model a bright and airy impression. The Limited edition brings in window screens for the sliding door, providing a measure of privacy. This model has leather-appointed seating and leather door inlays, with soft-touch materials and brightwork trim across the dashboard, on the door frames, and surrounding the center console.

The instrument panel features a pair of analog displays —speedometer and tachometer, along with a multi-color digital driver’s center. The face of the steering wheel offers switches for controlling the center unit.

Head to the center stack and you’ll find an 8-inch color display for the UConnect telematics system. I’ve praised this system in the past and continue to do so — it is intuitive, easy to operate, and the directions are spot on. Beneath that is the transmission shifter and an electronic parking brake along with various driver controls, and the climate control system. Head further down and you’ll find an open storage slot for holding your smartphone, a USB port, and an audio port. Moreover, a CD player and a large pullout storage drawer large enough to hold your iPad are also present.

At the base of the stack is an open storage area along with a 12-volt outlet and a USB port. The storage area is large enough to hold a small purse. Another open storage compartment is forward the center storage console, along with two cup holders, and a roll top storage area. This console does not do double duty as an armrest — Chrysler provides a pair of fold-down armrests for both front seats.

Each of the front doors comes with one drink holder and multiple storage compartments. The rear sliding doors each have drink holders, but no storage. The center seat position, when flipped down, provides two additional cup holders. The third-row seat has three drink holders embedded in the wall — one on the driver’s side, two on the passenger side. Take note of the 115-volt outlet as you enter the third row as well as the USB port and open storage compartment adjacent to the drink holders on the passenger side.

When the third-row seats are in place, you’ll find a deep storage compartment behind same. You’ll also come across a temporary spare tire in a side wall compartment, a 12-volt outlet, and tie downs.

This model’s stow ’n go seating system may be the difference maker for many consumers. It is an easy way to hide the third- or second-row seats, even both. In doing so, you get a ridiculous amount of storage room. Importantly, the folding seats are thicker and more supportive than ever, despite needing to hide away underneath the floor.

When not in use, the same storage compartments can be utilized to hold other items — that’s a double win for consumers.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The 2017 Chrysler offers one powerplant combination. A 3.6-liter, V-6 engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission.

This engine makes 287 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 262 foot-pounds of torque at 4,000 rpm. It has a 1,675-pound payload and provides 3,600 pounds towing capacity when properly equipped. The EPA rates this model at 18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for a combined 22 mpg.

The V-6 engine is aptly suited for this vehicle. It is the same engine FCA uses to power such models as the Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Dodge Charger. No boosting is necessary — just step on the gas pedal and the engine roars to life. I’m sure some of the rumbling emanating from the exhaust system is artificial, but at least the performance is there to back it up as the minivan climbs to highway speed quickly and without hesitation.

How would the Pacifica perform with a full payload and pushing the minivan to its 3,600-pound towing capacity? I never found out as four was the maximum number of people carried at any time and I had nothing to tow. But at least the capacity is there and it gives customers something to consider that isn’t a crossover (Dodge Durango) or a pickup truck (Ram 1500).

The 2017 Pacifica rides quietly and road noise is minimal. On the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) scale, this vehicle gets high marks thanks in part to its standard active noise cancellation technology. It also scores well in the handling, steering, and braking dominions.

Standard and Optional Technologies

The 2017 Pacifica provides a feature never offered in the Chrysler Town & Country or the Dodge Grand Caravan, but offered by Honda in the Odyssey: an in-cabin vacuum. For its unit, FCA turned to Emerson, maker of the RIDGID vacuum to design one for the Pacifica.

Unfortunately, the vacuum was not included in the test model, but for vehicles outfitted with one, it provides ease of access to the second row area where most spills and messes are found. The hose can reach the entire interior of the Pacifica, then retract into its storage space. The manufacturer claims best-in-class suction and that’s good news for families.

Other technologies are mentioned elsewhere and include the Chrysler UConnect system. UConnect also offers Apple CarPlay and Siri Eyes Free integration. If you don’t have an iPhone, now worries: the system is Android Auto compatible too.

Safety Features and Options

Chrysler says the 2017 Pacifica has more than 100 safety and security features. I wasn’t about to count them all, but I can tell you that this minivan offers several features that portend autonomous driving. See the “trim levels and price” section above for an available safety package.

All models are equipped with a suite of airbags, including driver and front passenger knee airbags. Brake assist, traction and stability control, electronic rollover mitigation, hill start assist, and trailer sway control are among the standard features.

The 2017 Pacifica has not been crash tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as of publication. Chrysler expects the toughened minivan will receive a top score in the institute’s small front overlap test where the previous model received a poor grade. Credit must be given to the broader use of high-strength steel and a stronger floor. In the process, the Pacifica saved upwards of 250 pounds compared to the Town & Country.

Buyer Considerations

Auto Trends typically recommends buyers consider the middle group of trims when looking at any new vehicle. Manufacturers expect that too, so you’ll probably find dealer lots filled with all three “touring” editions.

From there, carefully examine what’s important to you. For many minivan owners, the vehicle is like a home away from home, useful for carting your students to school, games, and to other activities. Still, to get a loaded model you’re talking about a $40,000 price tag, but that’s not uncommon in this segment.

Parting Thoughts

The 2017 Pacifica is an improvement over the previous Chrysler Town & Country in every way. Honda and Toyota offer stiff competition and the Kia Sedona and Nissan Quest might also be considered.

It should be noted that Fiat Chrysler will continue to make the Dodge Grand Caravan for a few more years, an older model and the long time twin to the now-retired Town & Country. Minivans offer more versatility than comparable crossovers and for this reason they’re worth considering — but why not consider the new model on the block?